2025 PwC Eastern Africa Banking survey

We are pleased to present the 2025 edition of the PwC Eastern Africa Banking Survey. This flagship publication gathers insights from senior banking leaders across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Mauritius, reflecting on the evolving financial services landscape in Eastern Africa.

The survey explores how banks are innovating, adapting, and positioning themselves to thrive amid economic uncertainty, regulatory shifts, and rapid technological progress.

Key themes shaping the future of banking include:

• Innovate with purpose: Banks are advancing disciplined digital transformation through investments in omnichannel banking, AI, cloud platforms, and open banking APIs. Internal innovation hubs and strategic fintech partnerships are accelerating capabilities and customer-centric solutions.
• Adapt to complexity: Despite near-term challenges such as policy uncertainty and cybersecurity risks, banks exhibit cautious optimism over a three-year horizon. They are evolving business models, strengthening operational resilience, and enhancing third-party risk management to navigate regulatory and market dynamics.
• Thrive through sustainability and data: Sustainability considerations have moved to the core of banking strategy, driving climate risk integration, green finance products, and enhanced reporting standards. Increasingly, banks leverage data analytics to improve customer segmentation, risk management, and growth opportunities.

At PwC, we remain committed to supporting Eastern Africa financial services sector with insights and strategies that enable them to innovate boldly, adapt swiftly, and thrive sustainably in a dynamic and competitive environment. This survey forms part of our ongoing effort to foster collaboration, share best practices, and contribute to the continued growth, stability, and sustainability of banking in Eastern Africa.